Machine for making sheet-rubber articles



R. A. FREEMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET RUBBER ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY I7, I917. RENEWED APR. 6, 1920.

1,340,884. A Patented M y 25,1920

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. A. FREEMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET RUBBER ARTICLES.

PLICATION FILED MAY 17, I917. RENEWED A PR. 6, I920. Patented: May 25, 1920.

3HEET'SS EEEE 2.

R. A. FREEMAN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET RUBBER ART|CLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY17,' I917. RENEWED APR. 5. I920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 1,340, 4, Patented May 25; 1920.

l 5 Emma H507,

$51 in GHQ m4 S a WWW PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS A. FREEMAN, 0F FLUSHING, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHEET-RUBBER ARTICLES. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

, Application filed May 1?, i917, Serial No. 169,336. Renewed April 6, 1920. Serial No. 371,724.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUFUS A. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Flushing, in the county of Queens and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Machines for Making Sheet ubber Articles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relatesto the'production of such articles as dress shields and the like from sheet rubber, and the invention consists of a machine of improved form and construction adapted to act on separate sheets-of rubber and to form therefrom the two flaps of a dress shield united along one edge.

he operation of my improved mechanism is based on the peculiarity of unvulcanized sheet rubber that if two sheets be placed together or superposed oneu on the other and subjected to the-pressure o a comparatively dull or blunt edge or die, the sheets will be severed along said edge and the severed portions will at the same timebecome united along their edges in the form of a joint resembling in certain respects a welded joint.

But if the superposed sheets be subjected to the pressure'of a sharp cutting edge, they. will be incised along said edge. without the material becoming united.

To take advantage of this peculiarity in the production of dress shields consisting of two flaps or blanks united along their upper edges, my improved mechanism embodies two sharp cutting edges or incising dies car-' ried respectively.by rotary rolls and adapted to act on separate sheets of rubber and to make incisions therein, thus forming the two flaps of the shield, rotary means for superposing said sheets one upon the other and causing the incisions to register with each other, and a comparatively dull cutting edge or severing die carried by a rotary roll and adapted to act on the superposed sheets and sever the same along a line connecting the ends of the incisions and corresponding to the upper edge of the dress shield, while at the same time causing the material of the incised portions or flaps to unite with each other along said edge.

The material is wound in the form of supply rolls on two spools rotatably supported in the machine'so that the sheets may be unwound therefrom and supplied to the machine, the two sheets being fed continuously legs 1.

through the-machine and being acted on by the incismg and severing dies in succession, with the result that finished dress shields, consisting of the two flaps connected to gether along their upper edges, will be produced continuously inwsuccession from the two sheets.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 .is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. a

Fig. 2 isa top. plan view of the same.

3 scale of one of the incising dies and its ca rrying roll.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the severing die and its carrying roll. 1

-Fig. 5 is a development of the surface of 6ne of the die rolls showing theform and contour of the incising dies.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the roll carrying the severing dies showing the form and contour of said dies.

F ig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective View showing how the two sheets are incised separately and then superposed and the incised portions severed and united.

Referring to the drawings:

The operative parts of the machine are mounted in a suitable frame 1 supported by Extending upwardly from said frame at opposite sides are two standards 2, 2, provided each with two bearings 3, 3,

in which are mounted journals 4, 4;, on the ends of two horizontal rotaryrolls 5 and 6- which are arranged side by side parallel to each other. The roll 5 is provided at diametricallyopposite sides with incising dies each in the form of a sharp cutting edge or knife,as shown in F ige 3, of a contour corresponding to the flap*of a dress shield as shown in Fig. 5. The roll 6 is likewise prois a SBCtlOIlilJP-VlGW on an enlarged vided on opposite sides with similar incising dies 8, which dies onthe two rolls areadapted to act on separate sheets 9 and 10 respectively of unvulcanized rubber, which sheets are fed to the action of the dies in the manner tobe more fully described here-- inaftelil', with the resultthat incisions 11 and. I2 wi be formed in the sheets as shown in Fig. 7.

Mounted in bearings in the frame beneath the two rolls 5 and 6 are two horizontal cylindrical platen rolls 13 and 14, the surfaces of which are in such proximity to the die rolls that the material passing between the die rolls and platen rolls will be supported by the latter and presented to the action of the dies, the surface of the platen rolls beingpreferably of smooth steel.

Beneath the two platen rolls is a third horizontal die roll 15 mounted at its ends in bearings 16: on the frame. This the roll carries at diametrically opposite sides two comparatively dull cutting edges or severing dies 15 of the form shown in Fig. 4, and curved to correspond to the upper edges of the flaps of the dress shield. .The severing dies are adapted to act on the two incised sheets after they have been brought together and superposed one upon the other with the incisions in registry with each other, and in the action of the severing die on the sheets thus superposed, the incised portions of the sheets will be severed from the main body of the sheets along a curved line 17 (see Fig. 7 which line will connect at its ends with the incisions 11 'and 12 and form the upper edge of the dress shield.

The severing die is of the peculiar form shown in Fig. 4 in order'that in addition to its severing action on the material, the latter will be caused to unite, with the resultthat the incised portions 11 and 12 of the sheets will be joined together along their upper edges. To bring about this uniting action of the material, the extreme edge of the die is dull or flat as at 16, one side of'the die is straight as at 16*, and the other side is beveled or inclined outwardly away from the straight side as at 16. In the action of the die on the superposed unvulcanized rubber sheets the fiat edge 16, and the beveled side 16 will cooperate with each other in compressing the material of the incised portions as these portions are sei'ered from the body of the sheets bythe straight side 16" of the die. the result beingthat while the incised portions will be completely separated and severed from the main bodies of the sheets,

' the two portions will be united with each two tables 24 and 25 which are fixedly sup-- ported in an inclined position and slope downwardly toward each other and have their inner lower ends terminating in proximity respectively to the die rolls 5 and 6 and the underlying platen rolls 13 and 14; so as to direct the material into the bites -the roll 13.

scribed hereinafter, the two sheets from the.

separate supply rolls will be drawn into the machine from opposite sides and passing between the die rolls andthe underlying platen rolls. the sheets will be incised separately as before described, and as they enter between the two platen rolls they will be brought together and the incisions therein caused to register with each other.

In this condition they pass between the.

platen roll 13 and the underlying die roll 15, and the severing die acting on the two sheets, the incised portions will be severed therefrom along the line 17 (see Fig. 7) and at the same time the severing die will cause the said portions to become united,

thereby producing a finished dress shield.

The power to drive the several rollsv is imparted by means of a pulley 26 which is clutched to the journal of 'the platen roll 13. The roll 13 is provided with a spur pinion '27 which engages a spur pinion 28 on the overlying die roll The pinion 28 on-the die roll 5 engages a pinion 29 on thefcompanion die roll 6 so that by the train of gearing described, the two upper die rolls are rotated in opposite directions. The platen roll let receives rotary motion from its companion roll 13 by means of a spur pinion 30 on the roll 14. which is driven by the pinion 27 on the roll 13; and the lower die roll 15 receives its motion from the platen roll 13 by means of a pinion 31 on the; roll 15 which is engaged and driven by the pinion 27 'on As a result of the train of gearing described, all of the rolls are positively driven in the direct-ionindicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the two upper die rolls rotating in opposite directions so as to draw the two sheets inwardly toward each other from the supply rolls, the two platen. rolls rotating also in opposite directions to each other an d oppositely to the two die rolls in order to cooperate with said rolls and in order to draw the'two two sheets and bring about. the action of the severing dies thereon.

It isimportaut that in the feed of the Y rotating the two supply rolls 9 and 10 so as to unwind the material therefrom, and the rotation of the several dies and platen rolls is so timed that their surface speed will be the same as that of the delivery of the sheets from the supply rolls, the two sheets hanging loose where theyleave the supply rolls as at A, thereby producing a slack at this point.

To accomplish this method of feed of the material, the supply rolls are acted on by mechanism which operates to positively rotate the rolls and unwindthe material therefrom, and as these mechanisms are the same for both rolls, a description of one will sufiice. A small roller 32 is mounted fixedly on a horizontal shaft 33 and engages the surface of the roll of material, so that when the shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the roll of material will be rotated so as to unwind the sheet therefrom. The shaft 33 is journaled in the upper ends of two parallel upright arms 34 the lower ends of which are fixed to a horizontal rock shaft 35 mounted in suitable bearings on the machine frame. The two arms 34 and the shaft 33 thus form in effect a frame carrying the roller 32 which frame is rockable about the axis of the rock shaft so that the roller can be maintained in constant engagement with the roll ofmaterial notwithstanding the decreasing diameter of the roll as the sheet is unwound therefrom. This frame is. acted on by a counter-weight 36 carried by a bar 37 fixed to and projecting horizontally inwardly from the rock shaft 35, the tendency of the weight being to swing the upper end of theframe inwardly and thereby hold the roller yieldingly pressed against the roll of material.

The shaft 33 has fixed to it a pulley38 driven by a belt 39 from a driving pulley 40 mounted loosely on the rock shaft 35. The hub on the pulley 40 has fixed to it a second pulley 41, and driving belts 42 are passed over the pulleys 41 at the two ends of the machine and extend inwardly-toward each other and pass around pulleys 43 and 44respectively on the two platen rolls 13 and 14. As a result of this construction and arrangement of the parts, the motion of the two platen rolls will be imparted to the two rollers 32 which will be rotated in engagement with the supply rolls 9 and 10 and will turn the rollers in a direction to unwind the sheets therefrom.

It is seen therefore that while the two sheets are drawn positively through; the machine by the rotation of the several rolls, they are not subjected to any pull or strain which would be liable to injure the material, since the supply rolls are positively rotated so as to unwind thesheets therefrom at the same rate of speed at which the sheets are drawn through the machine; the possibility of any tension on the material being avoided by the slack portions of the sheets where they hang loose in passing between the supply rolls and inclined tables.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine ofthe type described, the combination of two rotary die rolls provided with incising dies adapted to act on separate sheets of material and form incisions therein, rotary means adapted to draw the incised sheets together and superpose one upon the other with the incisions in registry with each other, and a rotary die roll provided with a severing die, adapted to sever the incised portions from the sheets and formed to unite the two incised portions.

2. In a machine of the type described, the combination of two die rolls provided with incising dies, platen rolls cooperating with said die rolls, means for feeding separate sheets .of material between the platen rolls and die rolls, whereby in- 'cisions will be formed in .the sheets, said platen rolls being adapted to draw the incised sheets together and superpose one upon the other with the incisions in registry with each other, and a die roll provided with a severing die adapted to act on the superposed sheets and to sever the incised portions therefrom, said severing die being formed to unite the incised portions of the sheets.

3. In a machine of the type described, the combination of two rotary die rolls provided with incising dies, platen rolls with which said dies cooperate in incising sepa- 11-0 rate sheets passing between said rolls, the said platen rolls being adapted to draw the incised sheets together between them and superpose them one upon the other with the incisions in registry with each other, and. a '115 die roll formed with a severing die cooperating with one of the platen rolls in severing the incised portions of the two sheets, said severingdie being formed to unite the incised portions of the sheets.

4. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frame adapted to support a supply roll of the material to be acted on,- a rotary'die roll mounted in the frame and adapted to act on the material from the supand so timed with relation to the rotation of the die roll as to unwind the material at the same rate of speed that it is fed by the die roll.

5. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frame adapted to support a supply roll of the material to be acted on, a rotary die roll mounted in the frame and adapted to act on the material from the supply roll and feed the same continuously through the machine, the said material arranged to hangslack and free of tension between the supply roll and die roll, and means independent of the die roll adapted to unwind. the supply roll continuously to supply the slack material. said unwinding means being so coordinated in its action and so timed with relation to the rotation of the die roll as to supply the slack material at the same rate of speed that it is fed by the die roll.

- (3. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frameadapted to give support to two supply rolls of the material to be acted on, rotary die rolls provided with incising dies and severing dies adapted to act on the separate sheets .of said material and incise the same and sever the incised portions therefrom, rotary means independcut. of the die rolls adapted to act on said supply rolls and continuously unwind the material therefrom, and means for operating the die rolls to feed the material continuously through the machine, the said die rolls and said rotary means being so timed same and feed the material continuously through the machine, the said material adapted to hang in two slack portions between the respective supply rolls and die rolls, and means independent of the die rolls adapted to unwind each supply roll continuously to supply the slack portions of the material, said unwinding means being so coordinated in its action and so timed with relation to the rotation of the die rolls as to supply the two slack portions of the material at the same rate of speed that the two sheets are fed by the die rolls.

8. In a machine of the type described, the

combination of a frame adapted to give support to supply rolls of the material to be acted on, die rolls operable to feed sheets of material through the machine and incise the same, swinging frames provided with rollers engaging the material on the supply rolls to unwind the same, means acting on said frames to hold the rollers in yielding engagement with the supply rolls, means for rotating the die rolls to feed the material continuously through the machine, and means for rotating. the rollers to continuously unwind the material from the supply rolls, the rotation of the die rolls and rollers being so timed that the material will be delivered from the supply rolls at'the same rate of speed at which it is fed through the machine. I

' S). In a machine of the type described, the combination of a machine frame adapted to give support to supply rolls of the material to be acted on, rotary die rolls mounted therein and operable to feed sheets of material through the machine and incise the same, rock shafts mounted in'the frame, arms on said shafts, rotary shafts mounted in said arms, rollers on the rotary shafts in'position to engage respectively the supply rolls and unwind the material therefrom, driving pulleys mounted loosely on the rock shafts, pulleys fixed to the rotary shafts, driving belts passing over said pulleys, means for rotating the die rolls to feed the material through the machine, and driving connections between the die rolls and driving pulleys for rotating the rollers to unwind the material from the supply rolls,

10; In a machine of the type described, the combination of a frame adapted to give support to asupply roll of the material to be acted on, a rotary die roll mounted therein, a rotary platen roll also mounted in the, frame, said rolls being operable to draw the material to be acted on between them, a supporting table sustained by the frame in position to direct the material between the die and platen rolls, means for rotating the supply roll to unwind the material therefrom, a guide bar at the outer end of the table over which the material is adapted to pass to the table and between which and the supply roll the material is adapted to hang loose, and means for rotating the die roll and platen roll to feed the material between them at the same rate of speed at which it is delivered from the supply roll.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature.

RUFUS A. FREEMAN. 

